When you’re painting with acrylics, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the different properties of the paint. One thing that might surprise you is that acrylics can feel a bit sticky on your palette and your fingers, unlike some other paints. So what’s the deal?
Why Does Your Acrylic Paint Feel Sticky? Your acrylic paint feels sticky because of the acrylic resin used in them & unless thoroughly dried out, this stickiness remains. The stickiness you feel results from the acrylic polymer drying slowly, which several factors can cause.
What are these factors, and is there anything you can do about it? This blog post will look at why acrylic paint feels sticky and offer some tips for dealing with it.
Table of Contents
Reasons For Acrylic Paint Feeling Sticky
The Quality Was Not Up to the Mark
When buying acrylic paint, make sure to buy a good quality brand. Cheap paint is more likely to be made with lower-quality materials, affecting how well it dries. If you’re using cheap paint, the acrylic resin’s quality simply isn’t up to par. This can cause the paint to dry slowly and feel sticky.
You Didn’t Store Your Paint Properly
Acrylics are sensitive to temperature and humidity. Thus, if you store acrylics in a humid environment, or if the paints are otherwise exposed to drastic changes in temperature, the paint will become sticky. Be sure to store acrylics in a cool, dry place to avoid this.
The Paint Was Old
Acrylic paint has a shelf life, so if you’re using paint that’s been sitting around for a while, it might not dry properly and become sticky. Be sure to check the expiration date on your paint before starting painting.
Keep in mind, paint can degrade after a few years, even if stored properly. If you’re not sure how old your paint is, it’s best to err on the side of caution and buy a new one.
You Used Too Much Paint
If you’ve applied a thick layer of paint, it’ll take longer to dry. To avoid this, use thin layers of paint and build up the color slowly. Also, try using less paint next time and see if that makes a difference.
The Paint Was Diluted
If you’ve added oil-based thinners to your paint, it can affect the drying time. When mixing your paint, follow the instructions carefully and only add as much thinner as recommended. Another possibility is that the ratio of paint to water is off, and as a result, the paint isn’t drying properly.
You’re Painting in a Humid Environment
High humidity can cause acrylic paint to feel sticky long after it’s dry to the touch. If you’re working in an environment with high humidity, you might need to adjust your drying time accordingly.
If the air is too humid, it can make your paint feel sticky even after it’s dry. If you’re painting in a room with poor ventilation, try opening a window or door to let some of the moisture out.
You Didn’t Prime Your Surface
Amateur artists generally underestimate the role of primers
. If you’re painting on bare wood or metal, it’s essential to prime the surface first. Primers will create a barrier between the paint and the surface, preventing the paint from soaking in and making it more likely to dry properly. It also means less time coating & more time painting!!
You Didn’t Let the First Coat Dry Before Adding a Second
It’s important to let each coat of paint dry completely before adding another. Should you attempt to apply a new layer too soon, the wet paint will start to interact with the previous layer, causing it to become sticky.
Acrylic paint dries within 30-60 minutes, depending on the paint’s brand, color, and thickness. A thicker layer of paint will take longer to dry than a thin layer. You can significantly speed up the drying process by adding a fast-drying medium or painting on a more absorbent surface.
Your Painting Surface Is the Culprit
If you’re painting on a non-friendly surface, the paint will have a harder time drying, making it feel sticky. If possible, try painting on a different type of surface.
Can You Paint Over Sticky Paint?
You can paint over sticky paint, but it’s not ideal. The new layer of paint will adhere to the old, sticky layer and likely crack or peel over time. If possible, it’s best to remove the old layer of paint before painting over it.
How To Limit Stickiness of Acrylic Paint
Unfortunately, once your paint is dry and sticky, there’s not much you can do to fix it. You may be able to scrape off the top layer of paint and start again, but doing so will ruin the entire painting.
But there are a few things you can do to try and limit the stickiness:
Use a Faster-Drying Medium
If you’re in a hurry and need your paint to dry quickly, you can add a fast-drying medium to speed up the process. It will help the acrylic resin dry faster and prevent the paint from feeling sticky.
Change Your Painting Surface
Believe it or not, if you’re having trouble getting your paint to dry, it may be the surface you’re using. Try changing the type of surface you’re painting on. A more friendly surface will help the paint dry quickly and prevent it from feeling sticky.
Try a Different Brand of Paint
If you’re using a cheap paint brand, it might be time to upgrade to a better quality. A higher-quality paint will have a better quality acrylic resin that will dry quickly and prevent the paint from feeling sticky.
Try Thinners
If your paint is old and has started to dry out, there’s not much you can do about it. However, if the ratio of paint to water is off, you can try adding thinners to thin out the paint. Thinners will help the paint to dry more evenly. With a bit of trial and error, you should be able to find a solution that works for you.
Final Words
In conclusion, the stickiness of acrylic paint is entirely due to its composition. Tackling the stickiness is simply understanding the material and taking the necessary steps to work around it.
By understanding this, artists can take steps to counteract the stickiness and make their paintings more appealing. Thanks for reading! I hope this article was helpful.
And if it wasn’t, perhaps the DIY Plan can give you more things to consider, depending on the object itself that you are painting on.